I wrote this at the beginning of 2003, so if you could be bothered, try to read with that in mind whilst at the same time note how applicable some points are today, and what we might have had had anyone listened back then. (Well, it was praised in the forums by fans, but obviously not management). The last RWC was hailed as a great success as there were many closer games. But not enough. Anyway..
"The format for the world cup is a joke. And so, as it appears, are the
tests over the other three-and-a-half years. Organise a proper ranking
system. Give the top ranking teams more advantage in the world cup. If
they're top ranking, they probably deserve to be in the final anyway.
(Throughout the 4 year intervals, properly organised tests or
preferably bi or tri annually spaced tours, similar to the days of
old, would be played. World cup rankings could be displayed with the
coverage - just like regular points in a competition. Like a big
worldwide competition! For example: "Tonight a win for the brazen
Irish could have them within one game of a coveted top 3 ranking!"
I'm not entirely sure yet of how the advantages of a high ranking can be
reaped in the world cup itself yet, apart from a slightly easier draw
as listed below. In a world cup where the venue must be earlier
established, one can't award a home semi-final. Maybe, for example, in
the case of a tie on the ladder, rather than decide it on points for
and against, send the top ranking team through. Using this system, the
World Cup could be held over the same time period or perhaps a week
extras it is now. And this is how it would appear, on current ratings:
DIVISION 1:
Group A
NEW ZEALAND (1)
AUSTRALIA (4)
ENGLAND (6)
WALES (8)
SAMOA (10)
Group B
FRANCE (2)
SOUTH AFRICA (3)
ARGENTINA (5)
IRELAND (7)
ITALY (9)
Each team from A play each other. 4 games over 3 weeks. The winner of
A plays the runner up of B and vise versa. Doing the math’s, it looks
like New Zealand have had a fairly easy run of things just having to
beat Australia (not as good a team but always a wildcard when New
Zealand is concerned) and most likely France (rather than an
over-confident Springbok team that can't play in Europe and who didn't
get a good enough combination together due to the passing of an
opportunity to play some solid full-strength games in the Tri-Nations
series). But that's OK, New Zealand, as top of the rankings, deserve to
be at the top anyway. They still have to win a best of Three for the
right to hold the world cup, which, if you look at it like this, has
been in the making for the last 4 years. To be top ranked after 4 years
of consistent wins is a big achievement.
A possible outcome, Division 1, Group A, after the first stage to
simply demonstrate the protocol:
NZ: 4 Wins, 3 bonus Points =15
AUS: 2 wins, 2 bonus Point = 10
WALES: 2 wins, 2 bonus Points = 10
SAMOA: 2 wins, 1 bonus Point =9
ENG: 0 wins, in danger of relegation to Division 2. (see below)
NZ and AUS go through. AUS by advantage of superior rankings at the beginning of the world cup. England, were, in
my indulgent scenario, beaten by both Wales and Samoa, a just revenge
from the preceding world cup. Had these teams benefited from some
better refereeing, a bigger budget and better fitness (which comes
from a superior budget), we may have seen one of the rarities in the
current world cup format: an upset. But it also goes to show that with
this current format, the title 'World Champions' is a misnomer.
But back to the plan. You might think that the 2-3 week period
deciding the champions will be too empty while everyone sits around in
France on their World Cup packages. Think again. On separate days
there are play offs for third and fourth (a 3 test series also, which
should produce some scintillating rugby in its own right) AS WELL as
the same thing going on in Division 2 & 3 (and 4).
Division 2 may see Scotland playing Fiji and USA up against Georgia.
Back to the Cold War! Reminds me of the big Olympic ice hockey
match up! And, this game is a true big test match on the World Stage!
AND, here's the clincher: The world gets to see Georgia in a thriller rather
than being decimated by 100 points! In fact, the whole world Cup will
produce close games. Every day! Upsets even! Every team can attend!
Portugal play Korea and Namibia V Hong Kong in the 3rd division! The top 2 from
these divisions could always play the bottom 2 from the division
above! So many possibilities! And most of the players could return
home afterwards with a win under their belt. They could have a good
time and go back to their local teams with some pride and stories of
glory rather than the humiliation of cremation in a (non)contest which
promises a thumping from seven guys who could have won the Boer War
simply by trampling the enemy or the fruitless chases of Joe
Rokocoko's dust all the soul-sapping afternoon.
There's enough rugby fields in any of the host countries. Hell, we
could have Columbia versus Serbia for the 4th division tie down at the
local Old Boys oval! Imagine the nutso soccer fans all driving down to
the pitch in their countries' colours and going at each other! Great stuff!
I know I'm starting to sound like a more fanciful idea created by the
intrepid minds of Roy & H.G, but the real winner here is rugby!
Remember the story about the game which had to be re-scheduled and the Tasmanian mayor (was it?) put his hand up? They got Namibia v Romania if I remember correctly. Half the town of Launceston showed up. Teachers (who else?) organised colours to be
distributed evenly so the whole crowd had someone to cheer for. The
game was a pearler. A three way friendship was developed. Invitations
to return for a rematch, houses opened up. Friends and hospitable
promises made. Nice.
To return to the serious part: Each top 3 in their division are
awarded with extra rankings points to give them a head start for the
next world cup, and a nice chunk of prizemoney to develop the
structure in that particular country. It would resemble the relegation
system in Europe. Scotland and Fiji, might move up, for example. With the
new found winning status, more interest is garnered and more funds
roll in to help the cause. Local business gets behind it. There's a
resurgence in the game at home. It's a rolling stone that gathers
something green. Not moss, but bucks. Minnow teams have a goal. The
country backs them. There are wildly fanatic fans of English Division
4 soccer teams who dream of that promotion. With every small step..
There could be another World Power in the Pacific if the players were
contracted for internationals on a State of Origin basis. NZ and
Australia don't need Fijian wingers. Honestly. They do. We could have
used Joe Roff when he went to France, and I understand it's to protect
the Super 14 (or 12 as it was), but now New Zealand have corrupted
that competition, also for world cup, ahem, glory. The IRU should stop
acting like politicians and distribute the money instead. And crack
down on coaches like Sir Clive. Like politicians should be, and
generally aren't, the IRU has a responsibility to further the game's
interests rather than keeping the cash up for the top 6 or 7
superpowers. With the way things are going, nobody is going to show up
for the clash between two superpowers in just over a week
anyway. We're all losing interest. The stadiums aren't full anyway. Why buy a ticket in advance if you're concerned you might be ripped off? Because that's what's happening to the true Rugby fans.
Now, if all which I've outlined actually happened, and we could all
get a ticket to a world cup game, no matter how far down the
divisions, the whole WORLD would be interested, just as we non-soccer
fans were last year. And if all that happened, if you
won the World Cup, after 4 years of qualifying and out of maybe 80
teams, wouldn't you be truly able to stand up and say
"We're World Champions"?
